About KRISTEN
Let’s Reach Your Goals Together
Working with individuals, teams, and organizations to build high impact programs, develop effective leadership styles, and embark on journeys of purposeful growth.
Kristen Hecht is the founder and CEO of Kristen Hecht LLC, a bespoke consulting firm that provides customized consulting, coaching, and capacity-building services. With over 15 years of experience, Kristen is a seasoned professional specializing in leadership development within the social impact sector. She is passionate about guiding individuals, teams, and organizations toward effective strategies, impactful leadership styles, and purposeful growth to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. Kristen is a recognized leader in the fellowship landscape, with extensive experience in designing, managing, and facilitating cohort-based learning programs. She has partnered with a variety of groups, including:
- Nonprofit Organizations and NGOs: Habitat for Humanity International, United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, The Human Trafficking Legal Center, IREX, Girl Security, New Sector Alliance
- Academic Groups: Columbia University (Social Impact Fellowship, Obama Foundation Scholars Program, and Neurodivergent at Columbia), University of California Berkeley, Georgetown University
- Government: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Foundations: The B.A. Rudolph Foundation, The Longbrake Family Foundation
Kristen has completed world-class trainings in professional coaching, leadership development, and diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. She possesses a Master of Arts in international politics from American University in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.
Kristen currently resides in Washington, DC, where she serves on the Board of Directors for the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA). In her free time, Kristen enjoys hiking, cycling, traveling, and planning her next adventure.
My Philosophy
Organizational Values
I center the following values in my work:
Integrity: I uphold the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all my activities.
Humanity: I believe in the inherent dignity, worth, and potential of human beings, and center the human experience in the design and delivery of all my services.
Inclusion: I strive to create diverse and inclusive environments where people of different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences are welcomed, respected, and valued.
Curiosity: I encourage a sense of wonder, inquiry, and exploration to uncover new opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. I celebrate the joy of discovery and the thrill of exploring new paths, horizons, and possibilities.
Innovation: I embrace creativity, innovation, and collaboration to address complex challenges more effectively, improve services, and find new solutions to social problems.
Certifications, Trainings, and Awards
Coaching
As a professional coach, Kristen completed her training through Co-Active Training Institute, recognized as the most rigorous professional coach training and certification program in the industry. She Is also trained In Positive Intelligence coaching, a mental fitness model to boost performance, improve well-being, and strengthen relationships.
Leadership Frameworks
As a workshop facilitator and leadership development trainer, Kristen is trained in Dare to Lead™ (Brené Brown’s values-based leadership framework to develop brave leaders and courageous cultures), Adaptive Leadership (New York University), Trauma-Informed and Resilient Leadership (Center for Justice and Peacebuilding), and Workforce Development for Learning Organizations (offered in partnership by Harvard University and Accenture).
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion
Throughout all of her work, Kristen utilizes a lens of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI). She is trained in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. From 2022-2024 she served on the DEAI task force for the United Nations Association of the United States of America, where she co-facilitated a session on implicit bias and supported the design of DEAI training materials. She attends monthly masterclasses on building neurodiversity-inclusive spaces through Neurodiversity Coaching Academy’s training that supports the full spectrum of humanity.
Education
Kristen possesses a Master of Arts in international politics from American University in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.
Awards
Kristen is a recipient of the Evelyn Falkowski Service Award, an annual service award presented by the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. She received this award for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity advancements made during her tenure as Chair of the organization’s Nominations Committee, including adjustments made to the recruitment and selection process for the Board of Directors and membership engagement strategies.
Kristen Hecht, LLC
A boutique consulting firm that provides customized consulting, coaching, and capacity-building services. Specialized in working with individuals, teams, and organizations to build high impact programs, develop effective leadership styles, and embark on journeys of purposeful growth.
Washington, DC, USA
Working remotely in the Washington, DC area, across the United States, and worldwide.